KSR Roundtable: Coping with Duke/North Carolina in the Final Four

Saturday night is a Kentucky fan’s worst fears realized: a Final Four without the Cats but with three of our blue-blooded rivals, Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas. If that wasn’t insulting enough, add in the high probability of Coach K going out on top as the Blue Devils win their sixth national championship — in the same building the Cats won it ten years ago — and you kind of just want to hide your head under a pillow for the foreseeable future.

…Or do you? How will you cope with the Final Four this weekend, specifically the Duke vs. North Carolina game Saturday night? KSR’s panel of traumatized writers is here to share our thoughts. A poll on Twitter suggests a relatively even split among the BBN of those who will watch and those who will ignore.

Kentucky fans, will you watch Duke vs. North Carolina in the Final Four Saturday night? #BBN

— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) March 31, 2022

Tyler Thompson

I will actually be in North Carolina on Saturday, albeit Asheville, where people are much more preoccupied with hula hoops, hiking, and craft beer than college hoops. My husband and I have a dinner reservation in the middle of the games Saturday night. Last night he suggested we turn heel and cheer for the Tar Heels at one of Asheville’s many establishments. The thought of being in a bar full of North Carolina and Duke fans during the national semifinals makes me slightly sick; however, the thought of seeing some Duke heartache firsthand could make it worthwhile. We will keep an eye on the score on our phones and if it looks like the Heels will pull off the upset, consider joining the melee. If not, well, what’s a basketball?

Nick Roush

I get plenty of pranksters that say, “How could you name your kid Duke?” That’s actually not my closest familial connection to Duke. My brother-in-law is a tried and true Blue Devils fan that has family members who are personal friends with Mike and Mickie Kryzewsdfsadfski. The first time I met him was days after Nerlens Noel and Alex Poythress lost to Duke in the Champions Classic. When he tried to exchange barbs, it took a solid year for him to get back on my good side. Two Christmases ago he actually gave me a framed and signed picture of “The Shot.” He could not stop giggling while I unwrapped the worst Christmas gift ever.

Throughout the years we’ve learned how to be respectful during games, exchanging light-hearted trash talk from time to time. We’ve reached an understanding that’s easy to live with, mostly because he lives five hours away. So of course I planned a trip to go see my sister and brother-in-law this weekend.

I hoped to skip the trip to go to New Orleans. Instead, I will be watching the Duke-North Carolina game in his living room. I could be obnoxious throughout the game, however, my wife will not tolerate that behavior. To get through the two hours, I will drink a responsibly large amount of beer and bet a responsibly large amount of money on the Duke moneyline. I’ve already accepted a miserable experience. I might as well make money if it all goes to hell.

Zack Geoghegan

I’ll be watching because that’s simply what I’ve done every year for as long as I can remember. High-stakes basketball? Yes, please — doesn’t matter who’s involved. I honestly think the Villanova-Kansas game will be more entertaining from a pure basketball standpoint, but I sure do love me a good narrative, especially when Kentucky isn’t at the center. I’ve almost found myself quietly cheering for North Carolina anyway, just because I can get behind an underdog, even if they are a blue-blood program. But also, I have no reason to dislike Hubert Davis just yet. So him taking down Coach K would absolutely bring a smile to my face.

Adam Luckett

The Luckett household has decided to participate in spring break this year, but this version will be much different than those trips over a decade ago when the John Wall dance was all the uproar. This time around there is a baby on the way as my wife Taylor and I are expecting our first child in July. Before a week filled with some golf in South Florida to go along with some time at the pool, we will likely find ourselves at a local watering hole that serves hot wings and cold draft beer.

The Final Four will be Bud Light time in sunny Florida. I might even cheers Eric Church when he flashes on the tube and play a song on TouchTunes for those upset ticket holders in the Lonestar State.

Drew Franklin

The pain of Kentucky’s early exit was far behind me until I woke up Friday morning to a gut punch from Facebook and its stupid memories feature: a photo of the 2012 Final Four court in New Orleans, posted to my account 10 years ago today.

Facebook just put me through a table. pic.twitter.com/xvhXFc7fpO

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) April 1, 2022

Now the misery of Kentucky’s embarrassing defeat is back, but I’ll still be in front of a television tomorrow night to do my part in rooting against Coach K. I’ve been cooped up inside all week so KSBar and Grille is where I’ll be sitting for the semifinal games. Bartender, keep them coming. This one might hurt.

Jack Pilgrim

Duke is a program I do not like. The Brotherhood is something I laugh endlessly about. Between the floor slaps, lack of player development, overrated draft success and Mike Krzyzewski’s sore loser/gracious winner mentality, I root for Duke to lose every game and have been counting down the days to K’s welcomed departure. That countdown continues and will conclude this weekend.

One, maybe (OK, likely) two more games until the Jon Scheyer era begins.

Of course I will be watching the Final Four. March Madness is the gift that keeps on giving for three weekends each year, and I’ll soak up every second of it while I can. I will just be using those seconds to root against the evil empire led by Darth Vader himself. North Carolina may have passed Kentucky in all-time postseason wins and that sucks, but adding another to their total wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Actually, I welcome it. All of BBN welcomes it.

Let’s get Coach K the hell out of here. Your time is up. One more weekend.

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Tell us your plans in the comments.